I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide writers’ week

‘In the 65-year history of Adelaide writers’ week there have been no civil disturbances apart from the occasional harrumph about the coffee queues,’ Louise Adler writes. Photograph: /Andrew Beveridge

The Adelaide festival board’s decision – despite my strongest opposition – to disinvite the Australian Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah from Adelaide writers’ week weakens freedom of speech and is the harbinger of a less free nation, where lobbying and political pressure determine who gets to speak and who doesn’t.

In the aftermath of the Bondi atrocity, state and federal governments have rushed to mollify the “we told you so” posse. With alarming insouciance protests are being outlawed, free speech is being constrained and politicians are rushing through processes to ban phrases and slogans.